Thinking Machines AI Startup Shakes As CTO Fired, Co-Founders Flee To OpenAI Amid $5B Fundraise

Mira Murati's one-year-old AI startup Thinking Machines is in crisis as co-founder and CTO Barrett Zoph is fired for poor performance, triggering mass resignations with five employees leaving — four heading to OpenAI — threatening a high-stakes $5 billion fundraise at a $50 billion valuation.

• Thinking Machines, Mira Murati's AI startup, is facing major internal turmoil after co-founder and CTO Barrett Zoph is fired for poor performance and talking to competitors, triggering a wave of resignations that sees five employees depart, with four heading directly to OpenAI.
• The exodus includes two of the company's six original co-founders, following an earlier departure of a third co-founder to Meta, raising serious concerns about leadership stability at a startup that is only one year old and has released just one product.
• The crisis hits at a critical moment as Thinking Machines seeks to raise $5 billion at a $50 billion valuation, with investors already reporting they are rattled by the departures, threatening the company's ability to attract talent and capital.